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Automakers have been leaking photos of upcoming concept cars leading up to next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but no one saw this one coming. A 23-year-old entrepreneur and automotive designer from Croatia named Mate Rimac will reveal an electric supercar at Frankfurt to rival the 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyron, which is the most powerful combustion-engined car on the road. “It is an electric supercar,” Mr. Rimac said. “It makes 1,088 horsepower, 3,800 newton-meters of torque [2,803 pound-feet] and is capable of going more than 300 kilometers per hour.” How can a country with no auto industry create a car to rival the most powerful vehicle on the market and make it electric to boot?

The Rimac Concept One is powered by “four independent electric motor drive units,” according to Mr. Rimac, which produce a total of 800 kilowatts. “The front and rear systems are separate units,” Rimac said. “Each of them includes two high-speed, liquid-cooled permanent magnet electric motors, two liquid-cooled inverter units and two reduction gearboxes, integrated into one small unit.” Translation? Tons of power, zero emissions.

The Concept One has already been beating Teslas in the e-miglia race in Europe, under the cloak of an old BMW E30, and now promises a Tesla-beating range of 366 miles on a single charge. Rimac plans to construct 88 cars in the first run and price them “a bit below the gasoline-powered competition from Pagani, Koenigsegg and Bugatti.” Apparently the Abu Dhabi royal family is already in line for their eco-friendly Rimacs. We’ll be eagerly waiting for photos and more info until the Concept One is revealed on September 13th.

I am from Croatia and I can say that we have to look at Concept One as prototipe for future cars. We simply can not discuse price . Market will respond. Technicaly car is super: advanced batteries, el motors etc. Who should ask for more ?!!!

They claimed it will be priced a bit below a Bugatti. That means this car will easily cost more than a 1.5 million dollars. You enjoy passing the Tesla Roadsters but you had to pay 15 times the money just to do so. You enjoy getting 66 miles more than the Tesla model S but you had to pay 20 times the money to do so. Honestly, I'm not sure there is really anything to be proud of.
Anyone can just throw more money into a car to make it slightly faster or longer range. Tesla probably could have made a car go that faster or have a bit longer range but realized that many people probably want to fork over an extra 1 million for a car that is only 1-2 seconds faster or gets 66 miles better range.

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Slideshow

Rimac Concept One Teaser

1 of 2

Automakers have been leaking photos of upcoming concept cars leading up to next week's Frankfurt Motor Show, but no one saw this one coming. A 23-year-old entrepreneur and automotive designer from Croatia named Mate Rimac will reveal an electric supercar at Frankfurt to rival the 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyron, which is the most powerful combustion-engined car on the road. “It is an electric supercar,” Mr. Rimac said. “It makes 1,088 horsepower, 3,800 newton-meters of torque [2,803 pound-feet] and is capable of going more than 300 kilometers per hour.” How can a country with no auto industry create a car to rival the most powerful vehicle on the market and make it electric to boot?

Rimac Concept One Teaser

2 of 2

Automakers have been leaking photos of upcoming concept cars leading up to next week's Frankfurt Motor Show, but no one saw this one coming. A 23-year-old entrepreneur and automotive designer from Croatia named Mate Rimac will reveal an electric supercar at Frankfurt to rival the 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyron, which is the most powerful combustion-engined car on the road. “It is an electric supercar,” Mr. Rimac said. “It makes 1,088 horsepower, 3,800 newton-meters of torque [2,803 pound-feet] and is capable of going more than 300 kilometers per hour.” How can a country with no auto industry create a car to rival the most powerful vehicle on the market and make it electric to boot?